Little League President Was Killed While Aiding Co-Worker Under Attack: Prosecutors

Two more suspects in the slaying of a South Bay Little League president and coach made their first court appearance Wednesday as prosecutors revealed that 35-year-old Frank Navarro was stabbed to death while coming to the aid of a co-worker under attack. Damian Trujillo reports. (Published Wednesday, March 8, 2017)

Two more suspects in the slaying of a South Bay Little League president and coach made their first court appearance Wednesday as prosecutors revealed that 35-year-old Frank Navarro was stabbed to death while coming to the aid of a co-worker under attack.

Santos Trevino and Joseph Esquivel stood side by side in a San Jose courtroom a day after they were arrested. Their bail was set at $2 million each. Prosecutors believe Trevino was the one who stabbed Navarro at the Tres Gringos Cabo Cantina in downtown San Jose on Feb. 26.

Andrew Cervantes is the sixth suspect behind bars in connection with the stabbing death of Frank Navarro.
Photo credit: San Jose Police Department

The District Attorney's Office says all six suspects were beating up a bouncer at the night club for confiscatng an ID. Navarro, who was head of security at the club, ran out to help and was stabbed. The entire incident was captured on surveillance video, prosecutors said.

"Justice needs to be served in this case," said Angela Tirado, Eastridge Little League vice president. "This is a senseless tragedy that did not have to occur."

Court documents show that both Ruiz and Cervantes were arrested in January on weapons charges and probation violations, but the DA dropped the charges in those cases about a week before Navarro's killing.

"The case was reviewed by my office, and it was felt we could not prove it beyond a reasonable doubt," deputy DA Lance Daugherty said.